Not only would vasimr allow for faster space travel. Performance studies of the vasimr vx200 ad astra rocket. It uses radio waves to ionize a propellant and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasma to generate thrust. A variable whose levels are controlled by the experimenter. Vasimr, the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket.
Investigation of plasma parameters in a magnetoplasma compressor. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocketvasimr. One possible way to change that would be the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr. Nasas funding was part of the 12 next space technologies for exploration partnership. It uses radio waves to ionize and heat a propellant, and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasma to generate thrust. As an openended, rfheated, mirrorlike plasma device, the. The laboratory director is franklin changdiaz, a nasa astronaut who holds a doctorate in applied plasma physics and fusion technology from the massachusetts institute of technology. Similarly, ad astras variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr ionizes gases such as xenon or hydrogen to create superheated plasmastream for thrust. Research variables atlantic international university. It uses radio waves to ionize and heat an inert propellant, then a magnetic field to accelerate the resulting plasma, generating thrust. A variable description appendix table 1 gives the summary statistics of the used and generated data. Apr 05, 2014 hi, i was reading about vasimr,my knowledge in rocket science is very limited,i was able to understand how plasma is produced and used for propulsion but i didnt understand how specific impulse is varied and why is it not possible for other ionthrusters or even chemical ones to vary the. Investigation of plasma parameters in a magnetoplasma. The maximum amplitude of all waves is in the center of the plasma and does not.
Power systems study for two variable specific impulse. Things that you can change that affects the dependent variable in a negative or positive way. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket written by garima vinay bhatia published. Oct 18, 2004 decay waves have been observed in the megahertz range in the helium plasma generated by the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket magnetoplasma thruster. An engine is disclosed, including a controllable output plasma generator, a controllable heater for selectably raising a temperature of the plasma connected to an outlet of the plasma generator, and a nozzle connected to an outlet of the heater, through which heated plasma is discharged to provide thrust. On the development of a magnetically vectored variable isp. Horsepowers are provided for reference only and should. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr is an electromagnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. A welldesigned science experiment has welldefined controls and variables. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr is a highpower propulsion concept using radio waves to create and accelerate plasma in a magnetic nozzle.
Rocket engineers love the idea of variable specific impulse, because it allows a spacecraft to behave more like a race car, adjusting its acceleration at each turn around a track. Plasma propulsion for interplanetary flight sciencedirect. Dependent variable the event studied and expected to change during an experiment because the independent variable was changed. It is variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket. Chapter 9 practice quiz 1 the variable in an experiment. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket or vasimr could cut space travel time by nearly a sixth of the time currently required. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr is an electrothermal thruster under development for possible use in spacecraft propulsion. Variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket tech briefs. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket, sometimes referred to as the electrothermal plasma thruster or electrothermal magnetoplasma rocket, uses radio waves3 to ionize and heat propellant, which generates plasma that is accelerated using magnetic fields to generate thrust. The distinguishing features of the discharge afterglow from the volume of a vacuum chamber for a long time after the termination of the discharge. Us6334302b1 variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket. An aspect of the engine design that affords a capability to achieve both high and variable specific impulse i sp places the vasimr far ahead of anything available today.
Us6334302b1 variable specific impulse magnetoplasma. Experiments attempt to discover the effects that differences in factor levels may have on the responses of the experimental units. It is obvious that by increasing the c e, the thrust force is increased and consequently the motion of rocket would be faster see eq. But students of science arent always 100 percent sure which are which. The control variable is not part of an experiment itselfit is neither the independent nor dependent variablebut it is important because it can have an effect on the results. Called the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr, the technology has been under development at johnsons advanced space propulsion laboratory. An engine is disclosed, including a controllable output plasma generator, a controllable heater for selectably raising a temperature of the plasma connected to an outlet of the plasma generator, and a nozzle connected to an outlet of the heater. In this study, we analyze the power storage systems needed for operational tests of a variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr on the international space station iss. It is also known as a constant variable or simply as a control. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket is an electromagnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr is described.
Hi, i was reading about vasimr,my knowledge in rocket science is very limited,i was able to understand how plasma is produced and used for propulsion but i didnt understand how specific impulse is varied and why is it not possible for other ionthrusters or even chemical ones to vary the. Research status of the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma. This sections will describe each of the variables in detail. The integral characteristics of the discharge, the dynamic parameters of a compression flux, and the concentration of the plasma electrons in the magnetoplasma compressor have been determined. While an experiment may have multiple dependent variables, it is often wisest to focus the experiment on one dependent variable so that the relationship between it and the independent variable can be clearly isolated. For xenon propellant, the specific impulse maximized at 1 wavelength, while minimum power was delivered to the gas at 12 wavelength. The effect of exhaust velocity on velocity distribution is shown in figure 6, while the other parameter is constant. In one embodiment, the source of plasma is a helicon generator. The specific values that the experimenter chooses for a factor are called the levels of the factor. An electrodeless design enables the rocket to operate at power densities much greater than those of more conventional magnetoplasma or ion engines. Rocket propulsion is the essential transportation technology for its rapid growth in human communication and exploration. Vasimr variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket.
They are measured using one of the tips of a triple probe connected to a 50. It is illustrated that the magnitude of rocket velocity is increased with increasing the c e. Vasimr variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket also. The design also provides high and variable specific impulse. A former astronauts rocket company is raising money via kickstarter to make a short documentary that explains the technology behind its propulsion system that could bring people to mars in just. New rocket engine could reach mars in 40 days space. The variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr engine is a new type of electric thruster with many unique advantages.
From its beginning in ancient china through its fast development during the cold war, rocket propulsion has become the essential technology of the late pervious and the current century. Independent a variable that is intentionally changed when. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket spacecraft. It uses radio waves to ionize and heat a propellant, and magnetic fields to. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket listed as vasimr. Pdf experimental investigation of electromagnetic plasma. Definitions of control, constant, independent and dependent. The article presents the results of experimental investigations that were carried out at the center for science and technology development in belgrade yugoslavia and pertained to the plasma streams generated by a gas.
Vasimr stands for variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket also seen as vasimr. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket engine. Highpower electric propulsion with vasimr technology unoosa. Nasa new rocket technology could cut mars travel time. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket ijert. A dependent b extraneous c moderating d independent e mediating correct answer. Similarly, ad astras variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocketvasimr ionizes gases such as xenon or hydrogen to create superheated plasmastream for thrust. Johnson space center has been leading the development of a highpower, electrothermal plasma rocket the variable specificimpulse. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket video. Chapter 9 practice quiz 1 the variable in an experiment is. It is a plasma propulsion engine, one of several types of spacecraft electric propulsion systems. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr. May 26, 2006 the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr is a highpower propulsion concept using radio waves to create and accelerate plasma in a magnetic nozzle. Propulsion and launching analysis of variablemass rockets by.
Independent a variable that is intentionally changed when doing variable an experiment in order to observe its effect on the dependent variable. Vsim stands for variable specific impulse magnetoplasma also variable structure interacting multiple and 11 more what is the abbreviation for variable specific impulse magnetoplasma. For a variable 1s, rocket, if we optimize efficiency so that u v, integration of eq. Variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket how is. Sep 09, 2015 the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket is an electromagnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. Former astronaut launches kickstarter bid for plasma rocket. Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket wikipedia. A controlled variable is one which the researcher holds constant controls during an experiment. A researcher must determine which variable needs to be manipulated to generate quantifiable results.
Several types of thrusters under development, including the helicon plasma thruster 7, the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster 8, and the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket vasimr 9. Vasimr is defined as variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket also seen as vasimr somewhat frequently. How is variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket also seen as vasimr abbreviated. Occurs when you only change one variable and keep all the other stuff the same. There are many types of variable but the most important, for the vast majority of research methods, are the independent and dependent variables. Decay waves have been observed in the megahertz range in the helium plasma generated by the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket magnetoplasma thruster. A control variable is any element of an experiment that.
Nasas new vasimr plasma engine could reach mars in 39 days. Numerical study on plasma flowfield and performance of. It is variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket. Treatment the process, interention, or other controlled circumstance applied to randomly assigned experimental units. Important features are its high and variable exhaust velocity, which greatly enhances performance. Variablespecificimpulse magnetoplasma rocket listed as vasimr. Propulsion and launching analysis of variablemass rockets. The independent variable is the core of the experiment and.
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